Air-brake apparatus



S. G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS- APPLICATION FILED APR-19, 1920.

I6 SHEETS-SHEET E\- 1% E v o v N P N INVENTOR JpcvzwrGZ/Val ATTORNEY S. G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. I9I I920. 1318961.. ate ed une 6, 1922 I6 SHEETS-SI'IEET 2.

INVEIIITOR .{pe/mG/VeaL ,SBY

ATTORNEY S. G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1920.

1,418,961, mum-mm 6,1922.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 3;

INVENTOR tyne/leer GJVeaL ATTORNEY3 S. G. NEAL. AlR BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1920.

Patented June '6, 1922.

I6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

- 5 wvewfo'c S. G. NEA-L.

AIR-BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1920.

1,41 ,961.,- hitentedJune 6,1922.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

\ gnvenroq, 9/ JPMLEI'QM -S. G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1920.

Patented June 6, 1 922;

'56 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

J zelzcer 6/VeaL s.'e. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED APR. 19. 1920.

PatentedJun 6,1922.

16 SHETSSHEET 1.

nliewfoz Jjnelzcer GiNeaZ @fi /ZM Elnora) 8. G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1920.

1,418,961. Patented June 6, 1922.

1a SHEETS-SHEET a! X 1&3 35 100 46 l ix k U V & '3?

INVENTOR ATTORN EYS,

S.'G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR.19, 19-20.

I 1,418,961. Patented-Tune 6,1922.

'16 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

|NVENTOR ATTORNEYS s'. G; NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. 1920.

Patented June 6,1922.

l6 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

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- INVENTOR Jerrzce Basdzom 27m dived;

TTORNEYJ S. G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19-. 1920.

a/ I 87 87 32 INvENToR Jerrice LQD Pw Jjpe/zwr .GZ/Vea fiiL- wi ATTORNEY Paten tedJune 6,1922.

S. G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, I920.

1,418,961. A PatentedJune 6, 1922.

A wmg/ 4w ATTORNEY s. e, NEAL. AIR BRAKE APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED APR.19, I920. 1,418,961. PatentedJune 6, 1922.

is SHEETS-SHEET l3.

mvsmon .Sjzczzcer 6.1Vea6 ATTORNEYS S. G. NEAL.

IR BRAKE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR-19' I920.

Patnted'June 6, 192 2 16 SHEETS-SHEET I4- mysmon ape/law 62 Neal ATTORNEY S. G. NEAL.

AIR BRAKE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED, APR. 19, 1920.

1s SHEETS-SHEET l5.

' PatentedJune 6, 1922.

AMHHH I I IU mvsmpn Jpeiwer QM ATTORNEY S.G.NEAL. AIR BRAKE APPARATUS.

7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, I920- 1,418,961. Patented June 6, 1922.

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SPENCER GEAR/Y NEAL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,'ASSIGNOR TO AUIOIVIA'IIC STRAIGHT AIR BRAKE GOIVIFANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELANARE, A GOREOBATION OF DELIL- WARE.

AIR-BRAKE AEPARATUS.

ll,4ill8,961.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922.

Application filed April 19, 1920. Serial No. 875,083.

T 0 all 10 lwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, SPENCER Gr. NEAL, a citizen. of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air- Brake Apparatus (Case No. 37), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that type of air brake apparatus disclosed in my Patent No. 1,411,368, April i, 1922, wherein brake pipe and brake pipe reservoir air is used for all service applications of the brakes, an emergency reservoir supplying air for emergency applications oi? the brakes. In the apparatus disclosed in said application the brake pipe volume is augmented by the brake pipe reservoir, air from said reservoir passing to the brake cylinder with the air from the brake pipe during all service applications of the brakes. lit is turther characteristic of the apparatus disclosed in said application that the brake cylinderpressu re controls the final movement of the triple valve to lap position so that the brake cylinder pressure will be always built up to the desired degree, without regard to the length of piston travel or brake cylinder leaks.

The main object of this invention is to simplify and improve the construction ot the apparatus disclosed in my aforesaid pending application.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and improve the automatic emergency pilot valve and to simplify and improve the release governing valve.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and improve the means for obtaining an emergency application of the brakes.

There are other important objects and advantages of the invention which will appear hereinafter.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the triple valve taken on the line l-l of Fig. 6 with the parts in full release and brake pipe reservoir charging position;

Fig. 2 a similar view with theparts in emergency lap position;

Fig. 3 a similar view showing the parts in emergency application position;

Fig. 4 a plan view or the triple valve the slide valve housings andslide valves being removed to show the valve seats and some of the ports and passages;

Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 4 showing other ports and passages;

Fig. 6 a vertical transverse irregular sectional view of the triple valve taken substantially 011 the line VL-Vl of Fig. 7, the section of the main slide valve and emergency valve being taken on the line VI VI of F i 4;

ig. 6 a sectional view taken on the line U -V1 of Fig. 3, showing the emergency valve in emergency position;

Fig. 7 an irregular vertical sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of Figs. 4 and 6;

Figs. 8, 8 and 8 sectional views of the main slide valve, the graduating valve and the main slide valve seat taken on the lines A and B of Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16, show-- ing the valves in brake pipe reservoir chargin position. I

fiigs. 9, 9 (LDC til vie vs similar to Fig. 8 etc., showing the valves in emergency reservoir charging position; 7

Figs. 10, 10" and 10 views similar to Fig. 8, etc., showing the valves in service application position;

Figs. 11, 11 and 11 views simliar to Fig. 8, etc, showing the valves in service lap po-- sition; 7

Figs. 12, 12 and 12 views similar to F 8. etc., showing the valves in emergency position;

Fig. 13 a bottom view of the graduating valve;

Fig. 14: a top view of the main slide valve;

Fig. 15 a bottom view of the main slide valve;

Fig. 16 a plan view oi the main slide valve seat; a

Fig. 1'? a detail vertical sectional view i the release governing valve; 7

Fig. 18 a bottom view of the release governing slide valve;

Fig. 19 a detail plan view of the triple valve assembled with the brake cylinder emergency reservoir and the brake pipe reservoir;

Fig. 20 a detail view of the face of the triple valve to which the pilot valve seat is secured;

Fig. 21 a detail view of the seat of the pilot valve;

Fig. 22 a detail. vertical sectional view of the pilot valve in release position F 28 a view similar to Fig. 22 showingthe pilot valve in lap position;

Fig. 23 a detail view of the pilot valve slide valve;

Fig. 24 a detail sectional view of the quick release valve;

Fig. 25 a detail sectional view on the line X -X of Fig. 5;

Fig. 26 a detail sectional view taken on the line Y-Y of Fig. and

Fig. 27 a diagrammatic view of the triple valve, with the parts in brake pipe reservoir charging position and the release governing valve in quick release position.

i eferring to the various parts by reference characters, A. designates the triple valve body; B the emergency reservoir; C the brake cylinder and D a brake pipe reservoir (see Fig. 19).

The triple valve comprises a lower controller section E which contains the means for controlling the brake cylinder pressure; the main slide valve section F which contains the service and emergency slide valves, and the emergency pilot valve section (.l.

H designates the brake pipe; I the main or service slide valve; J the emergency slide valve; K the pilot valve controlling the triple valve for service applications of the brakes and. for graduated release of the brakes; M the release governing valve, and N the graduating valve.

In order to simplify the description, the various ports, passages and valves, and their functions. will be described in detail in connection with the several valve operations.

The main slide valve section F of the triple valve body is provided with a brake pipe connection 1, shown in Fig. 6, which is in direct communication with a port 1 of the emergency valve seat. The emergency slide valve J is formed with a port 2 which is adapted to cooperate with port l and place the brake pipe in communication with the main brake pipe chamber 4 of the triple valve. The port 2 opens directly into an emergency valve chamber 3 which chamber is in direct and open communication with the main brake pipe chamber at through openings in head 126, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, so that chamber 3 is actually a part of the brake pipe chamber 4. Chamber 4 is enlarged to form the cylindrical chamber 6 in which reciprocates the large emergency piston 5 said piston forming one wall of the chamber 6 and being subject on one side to the brake pipe pressure in chamber 4E and on its other side to the pressure in chamber 6. Axially in line with chamber 6 is formed a smaller cylindrical chamber adapted to receive the main actuating piston 10, said piston being smaller than the emergency piston and axially in line therewith but on the opposite side of chamber 4. The main actuating piston is provided with an outwardly extending stem 9 which is adapted to fit within an inwardly extending tubular extension 107st the emergency piston. The stem 9 is formed with a vertical slot 8 and the tubular extension of the emergency piston carries a vertical pin 7 which extends through said slot so that the two pistons may have a limited independent movement for purposes which will hereinafter appear. The main actuating piston is provided with a piston stem 11 which extends inwardly into a supplemental brake pipe chamber 23, said chamber 23 being on one side of the actuating piston and main brake pipe chamber being on the other side thereof, so that said piston will move in response to variations in pressure in saidtwo chambers. A graduating spring 12 surrounds the inner end of the main piston stem, for purposes which will hereinafter appear. The main piston stem is provided with an upstanding post or stem e5) which operates through a slot in the inainslide valve seat and is adapted to engage the main slide valve .ll. The main slide valve is formed with an operating slot l-I: which permits a limited movement of the operating stem 41:5 without movement of the slide valve. The upper end of the stem a5 engages the graduating valve N so that said valve will always, move with the actuating piston, there being no lost motion between the stem 45 and the graduating valve. The graduating valve and the main slide valve are maintained on their seats by suitable springs. and said valves reciprocate in the main slide valve chamber 27.

The controller section E of the triple valve is formed with an actuating chamber i l which is connected directly to main brake pipe chamber 4: through passage 15 so that brake pipe pressure will always be registered in the actuating chamber. The lower wall of the actuating chamber is formed by diaphragm 16. Below the actuating diaphragm and spaced therefrom a suitable distance. is arranged a controlling diaphragm 17. The controlling diaphragm. is somewhat larger in area than the actuating diaphragm. Below the controlling diaphragm and spaced therefrom a suitable distance is arranged an emergency reservoir diaphragrn 18. Each diaphragm is supported at its center by a pair of clamping disl-zs which are threaded together, the disks of the three pairs abutting against each other so that all of the diaphragms will move together. Between the diaphragms 1G and 17 is formed a controlling chamber 52 which is in direct communication with the brake cylinder through pas- 58, as will be more fully hereinafter described. This chamber is also in communication with the pilot valve K through a passage 49. Between diaphragins 17 and 18 is termed a chamber 56 which at all times, except in'emergency applications oi the brakes,

is opened to atmosphere through passage 5(. Below the emergency diaphra m 18 is formed an emergency reservoir chamber 94.- which chamber is at all times in communication with the emergency reservoir through passage 95. i v

The casing of the pilot valve K is secured to the controller section, as shown clearly in Fig. 7, and the interior of said pilot valve casing is in direct open communication with chamber 1st, so that brake pipe pressure will be registered in the pilot valve casing except during emergency applications." The pilot slide valve 19 is secured in a vertically mov able stem 19 which is mounted to reciprocate in lugs formed on thepilot valve seat. The upper end of the stem 19 is operatix' ely connected to the free end of a pilot valve lever 30 which extends into the actuating chamber. The actuating diaphragm is pro vided with an upwardly extending central stein which is vertically slotted tor the passage of the pilot valve lever. A transverse pin 20 eonnects the lever to said stem, and

the inner end of the lever-is tulcrurned on a pin 21 supported in a suitable bracket mounted in the chamber let so that as the diaphragms are vibrated. the lever 20 will be moved toactuate the pilot valve. The up per end oi the stem of the diapl'iragm it is termed. with a horizontally slotted head adapted to receive theheaded lower end oi? a pin 19 said pin being secured in the upper wall. of the chamber This pin serves a stop to limit the vibrations ol the diaphragm l6.

The stem of the actuating diaphragm is formed in two parts which are pivotally connected. together by the transverse pin 20. c

The stem 19 ot' the pilot valve is provided with a headed pin 19' to which is connected a rod 19 The lower end of this rod is provided with a head and this head is formed with an open'slot which is ad: ceive the pin 19. the upper end (.f said rod sliding loosely through the upper bearing of the stem 19. The rod-19 above the said bearing is provided with a stop collar to limit the downwardmovement of the rod.

brake Jive connection 1 see Fl. 6.

Between the head on the lower end of the rod 19 and the upper bearing of the stem 19' is arranged a spring 19 'VVhen the pilot valve is moved to application position the spring 19 is compressed and serves to move the pilot valve back to lap position upon an equalization of pressures, as herein described. The rod 19 is so arranged and proportioned that the pilot valve may be moved downwardly to release position without interferonce.

The pilot valve slide valve 19 is formed with a groove 48 in its face which groove is adapted to cooperate with passage-49 lead- 1' ing to the controlling chamber 52; passage 50 leading to the exhaust 51 which is adapted to be connected to any desired form of retainer and with passage and port 22 which leads to a port 2-l in the main slide valve seat. lVhen the pilot valve is in application position brake pipe air flows from chamber 28 through port 24, passage 22, groove 48 of the pilot valve to passage 49 and chamber 52, and thence to the brake cylinder through passage 53. When thepilot valve is in release position brake cylinder air flows through chamber 52, passage 4L9, groove or the pilot valve to passage 50 and thence out through the retainer connection The service position of the pilot valve is shown in Fig 7. and the release position thereof is shown in Fig. 22.

The main slide valve section of the triple valve body is formed with a small chamber 28 in direct open communication with the don-- nected to this chamber 538 is a port 29 which ez tends partly around toe chamber 23 and connects with brake pipe port 30 in the main slide valve seat so that brake pipe pressure is always registered at port B The main slide valve seat is also formed with a brake cylinder port 55 which is connected by passage 5% to the brake cylinder. The main slide valve seat is also tor-med with a port 9? which is connected by passage 99 with a passage leading to the brake pipe res ervoir connection 89. In this passage is arranged a check valve 98 which seats toward the connection 39 so that air cannot pass "from port 97 tl'irough the brake pipe reservoi r but may pass from said reservoir back to the port 97 when a superior pressure is in the brake pipe reservoir. The arrangement of check valve 98 is shown in Figs. 4. 6 and 26. The brake pipe reservoir connection 39 is connected through passage 10 with the chamber 6 so that brake pipe reservoir pressure will always be registered in chamber 6 and against one side of the emergency piston.

Tile emergency reservoir is connerted to the triple valve throng passage 0'5 which extends into a chamber 66 directly below the release governing valve. The release gov erning valve chamber 7 2 is provided with a valve 67 which is held upwardly to its seat by a spring 70, said valve closing communication between the release governing valve chamber and the quiclcrelease chamber 66 so that emergency reservoir pressure will always be registered under the valve 67. A downwardly seating check valve 81 formed with a small leak port 82, is arranged in chamber 66 between the valve 67 and the pas sage 65, said valve seating toward the passage 65. This valve is held to its seat by a suitable spring and prevents air i'reely passing from chamber 66 through passage to the emergency reservoir but whenever there is a superior pressure in chamber 66 it will leak through the port 82 to the emergency reservoir l7 and The release governing valve 61 is connected by a stem 61 to a manually reciprocable bar 61 mounted in the valve casing. The valve 61 is termed with a cross release groove 62 in its taco which is adapted to connect release passage 47 to exhaust port 63, the latter port leading directly to the retainer port 51. Exhaust 47 ex tends to the exhaust port 4L7 in the main slide valve seat, as shown clearly in Fig. When the release governing valve is in the position shown in Fig. 17.. the release groove 62 connects passage .17 and port 63 for a,

quick release oi? the brakes Ti lien the release governing valve is moved to gradu ated release position, at and 63 are closed and the release of brake cylinder pressure must take place through passage 49, groove l-S of the pilot valve, and exhaust port and passage 50 which extends from the pilot valve seat to the retainer connections 51 as shown in F 7. When the release governing valve is in quick-release position the r lease of the brakes will talre place through the main slide valve port 47 and passage 47 and also through the pilot valve groove 4:6 and port and passage 50.

Mounted in the release governing valve chamber is a quick-release lever 69, pivoted on pin 69. The release governing Slit e valve 61 is formed with upwardly extending cams 68 which are adapted to engage one end of the release lever to torce the same upwardly when the slide valve is moved to quick-release position as shown in Figs. 7 and 17. The other end of the quick-release lever is adapted to engage an upwardly extending stem formed on the quirk-release valve 67 to depress and open said valve against the tension of its spring 70. When the valve 67 i open emergency reservoir air may flow directly into the quick-release valve chamber and from said chamber it will flow to main slide valve chamber 27 through passage 73. lVhen the valve 67 is depressed air from the emergency reservoir flowing through passage 65 will lift valve 81 and pas through quick-releasechamber 66 into the release governing valve chamber. From chamber 27 the high pressure air from emergency reservoir will pass to chamber 23 and also to the brake pipe through ports and passages as will be hereinaiter described.

The automatic emergency valve is formed with a piston chamber in which reciprocates a piston 7 6. Leading into the top of this chamber above the piston is a port 75 which is connected by a suitable passage to a small chamber 74 directly in communication with a brake-pipe connection 1, so that brake pipe pressure will be always registered on top of the emergency iston. This passage is shown clearly in H igs. 4, 6 and 7. In the automatic emergency pilot valve is arranged a downwardly seating valve 120 which is adapted to be engaged by headed stem 128 loosely connected at its, upper end to the emergency piston 76. Surrounding this stem and operating between a rigid spider guide and the head at the lower end of said stem, is a spring 125, said spring norinally holding the automatic emergency valve 120 closed. Belowthe automatic emergency valve is a small chamber 93 which is connected by passage 93 to the passage 92 and the emergency reservoir passage 65 so that emergency reservoir pressure will be always registered below the automatic emergency valve 120. Between the valve 120 and the emergency piston is formed a chamber 118 which is directly connected by passage 38 with the brake pipe reservoir connection 39 so that brake pipe reservoir pressure will be al ays registered in chamber 118. The emergency reservoir is charged through port 91 of the main slide valve and passage 92 which passage is connected through passage 93 to the emergency reservoir passage 65, shown clearly in Fig. 5. Interposed between passages 91 and 92 is a downwardly seating check valve 90 which prevents air passing back from the emergency reservoir to the main slide valve seat, which will be more fully hereinafter described.

The emergency slide valve J is connected to the emergency stem which is guided in the emergency valve chamber by a rigid spider collar 126. The emergency valve stem is provided at its outer end with an upwardly extending operating arm 108, which arm is formed at its upper end with a yoke extending around the tubular extension 107 of the emergency piston. This yoke is adapted to be engaged by the shoulder 106 on the extension 107 when the emergency Piston moves inwardly to operative position. The emergency piston through said engagement with the operating arm 108 will move the emergency slide valve to emergency position. 

